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After 28 years with a flawed toxics law, finally a result

Some dry cleaners use trichloroethylene, a chemical the EPA has identified as harmful, to remove stains from clothes.

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If you thought
trichloroethylene is bad, you’re right – and the federal government agrees.

Here’s what’s new: For the
first time in nearly three decades, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
has identified the
chemical as harmful under the all-but-dormant Toxic Substances
Control Act.

EPA said using the solvent
trichloroethylene in some sprays, degreasers and stain removers poses a
serious threat to workers and consumers as it significantly increases the risk
of cancer and other serious health problems.

It’s the first such action
under the act EPA has been able to finalize since 1986 under the
Toxic Substances Control Act. The agency also took the opportunity this week to
call on Congress to reform the law – a key priority for Environmental Defense
Fund’s Health Program.

EPA's action has been a long
time coming, and the agency still has a ways to go.

There are 85,000 chemicals in
the act's inventory, tens of thousands of which are in commerce with
little or no oversight by regulators.

A year ago, senators introduced
the first bipartisan legislation to fix the flawed Toxic Substances Control Act
and to direct EPA to review the safety of all chemicals on the market
today. EDF is working with members of Congress to make critical
improvements to the bill and pass it into law.

EPA’s assessment found elevated
health risks that occur when consumers use spray aerosol degreasers and
fixatives, and when workers in small commercial and dry-cleaning shops use
degreasers and stain removers, that contain trichloroethylene.